Ferguson for attorney general: Decision imminent

King County Councilman Bob Ferguson is expected to announce his candidacy as a Democrat for Washington State Attorney General within the next two days, sources close to Ferguson said late Wednesday.

Ferguson

The long rumored candidacy comes as incumbent Attorney General Rob McKenna is promising a decision by summer on a 2012 run for governor. McKenna, a Republican, is making pre-candidacy appearances, such as speaking before GOP faithful at Lincoln Day dinners.

Ferguson spent four years as a litigator with the Preston Gates & Ellis (now K & L Gates) law firm.

He is, however, best known as the relentless insurgent who unseated two apparently entrenched King County Council incumbents, both fellow Democrats.

Ferguson rang 22,000 doorbells en route to a 2003 upset of Councilwoman Cynthia Sullivan. Almost every Democratic officeholder in the King County Courthouse endorsed Sullivan.

No sooner did Ferguson take office than colleagues eliminated his district, as the King County Council was reduced from 13 members to nine.

Ferguson hit the streets again in 2005, and defeated incumbent Councilwoman Carolyn Edmonds.

He has shown an independent streak at times, especially on fiscal issues. And Ferguson was the only King County Council Democrat to support reducing the number of council seats.

Ferguson has career parallels with the man he would replace. He was elected University of Washington student body president two years after McKenna held the post. Like McKenna, an alumnus of Perkins Coie, Ferguson went from a prominent law firm to the King County Council.

The state attorney general’s job has served as Washington’s springboard to higher office.

Chris Gregoire served three terms as AG before winning the governor’s office in 2004. Slade Gorton gained national recognition in the job, especially in arguing cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, before challenging and defeating longtime Democratic Sen. Warren Magnuson in 1980.

Others in the AG’s office – e.g. Republican Ken Eikenberry and Democrat John O’Connell – lost races for governor.

Ferguson is a former state chess champion. He has made numerous backstage moves to line up Democrats’ support and is expected to deliver a list of prominent endorsers when he announces.

In 2005, after wiping out Ferguson’s seat, several Courthouse insiders toasted their cleverness at the New Orleans Cafe in Pioneer Square. Ferguson took note, and picked the New Orleans Cafe for his victory celebration after unseating Edmonds.